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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (June 10, 1899)
THE COURIER givon rlfio to very wltlo and general dis cussions that will, bicreaso in volumoand woight until ttio Milwaukoo Hionnial, and bidH fair to givo riao to as diverRo opinions ub tbo discussion of tho ror capita tux at tbo Denver Biennial. Tbo following account of tbo some what contradictory actionB takon by tbo Worcester Club in tbo past is from tho Weelorn Club Woman: Naturally tbo Worcester Club bus brought upon itsolf some criticism, and It is especially cited against its present stand that six years ago it opposed stato federation. SMb is a rather small charge since tho federation exists, among othor thing?, for tho purpose of helping women to acquiro tho courngo to change thair minds. On tbo olhor hand, having remained out of tho btato federation for livo years, becuuso it did not wait to bo organized by tho General Federation, it would cortainly havo been wise and saved a little friction bad it taken its proposed changes to tho next Biennial, wbero thoy can bo acted upon, or to tho proper authorities in tho Gen eral Federation board, rather than to its own chairman of Statu Corrospcndenco. In replying to tho re solutions, tho club ia advised to luy them boforo tbo council meeting of presidents and ofliccrs of clubs to bo hold in Philadelphia tho first throo dayB in Juno. Undoubtedly there will bo a prolonged diECUssion of this subject at that time. Already there has bpon a committo, of which Mrs. Piatt, Mrs. Philip Moore and Mrs. Emma Fox aro tbo members to detlne tbo relativo positions of the state presidents and Btato chairman of correspondence, for whilo tbo president may be much in her own state, laboring indofatigably for tho federation, in the National organization, hitherto, she has beou of quite secondary importance compared to tbo chairman of correspond ence. It has beon said tho only place whore stuto presidents havo a hearing is in the department devoted to them by Mies Winslow, in "The Club Woman." It would cortainly simplify and unify club work if tho delegates to tho Bien nial wore from BtuteB, rather than from clubs, and certainly there is no fairness in giving exactly the same privileges to a club of ten that are given to a club of a thousand. It the per capita tux pre vails thiB unfairness will bo more glar ing. On the other hand, there are clubs that oppoBO state federation. This ques tion is now being agitated in California, and it is possible that Btato may inau gurate the change desired by those who tind the present organization unwieldy. There its a strong sentiment in the Pniladelphia cluba in favor of reorgani zation under which "the number of dele gates could not exceed a rutional limit, and no stuto could fail to tind tlio 'floor' when (iobirublo. ' In tho meantime clubs will (ind much lo consider, and thoso whoso representatives expect to bo at tho council will do woll to discuss all phases of tbo subject before tho June meeting. Mrs. John C. Printup, of Rome, Ga IB president of tho Library Board of Trustees in that city. A new lecturo hall for this library has just been finish oJ, which will tout about .'100 persons. Tho entire amount necessary for tho building of tho hall was solicited by Mrs. Printup und Mrs. John 11. Reynolds from tho business men of Rome. Arrange ments havo been mado to keep tbo li brary opon in tho ovoning, and to give men and boys an opportunity of rouding there. In our zeal to establish travoling libra ries all over tbo land wo may loso sight of Eomo very important Etationury libra ries that are being eRtubllahod by largo monied companies for tho benofit of their employes. Tbo ono established by tho Metropolitan Stroot Railway Company, of Now York, is typical of tho class, honor wo uppond the following deBi.-rip-tion from tho Herald: "Soo bore," said tho librarian, "you'ro way bohind Bcho-lulo on that 'Humpor ton'B Intellectual Lire.' It costs you two centB a dily for overtime. Two woeks toduy you'vo had it." The librariun of tho Metropolitan Street railway wbb speaking. Ho was formerly a motorman, ind now he haB charge of tho books storod in tho top loft of tho company's "bain" at Seventh avonuo and Fiftieth streot. 1 had heard about this library, and 1 looked over tho catalogue and foi.nd ull manner of books undor tho sun oxcopt those which you and I would suppose conductors, motor men, and gripmon would read. "Hamerton is pretty good," said tho librarian. "A fellow gets carried beyond Iub power onco in a whilo, though has to got Foino ono to push him along to tho next circuit." Litoraturo is cultivated for its own sake in the barn. The men aro furnish, ing their own toplofts with all manner of thoughts. Tho library was the selec tion of a literary young man attached to the forces of the company. II. II. Vrec land, tho president, evolved tbo idea of tbo library, and tho young man Eelectod the books. Tho librarian was olocted by tho mon, uud lie is gradually gotting "broken in" as thoy say of green motor men. Ho dresses in tbo regulation uni form and handles bookB as though ho wcro ringing up fares. He does not say much, but he id a keen Btudent of human nature and has a book ready for every emergency. "Hollo, Smitbson!" ho observes to tho newly arrived gripman. "Had a short tripper, eh! How about trying 'Around tho World in Eighty Days?" "No, young man," be remarks to tho sallow youth who inquires for the books of a popular authoress, "wo haven't any of them Libby books. No, take it all back. Libby Libby 'History of Libby Prison.' Don't want that? Now, if edu cation and culture cut any ice with you I'd give you ubis 'Farthett North,' where they don't havo any icehouses." "How's that?" ho asks of a now comer, "Had two collisions? Ran over a news boy? Tough, wusn't it? Don't got ex cited." The librarian takes from the shelves tho "Reflections of Marcus Aurelius ' "Try that," he advises, "and if it doesn't suit your case here's another by a man by the name of a Kempie. "Say, Jenkins," remarks tho sympathe tic librarian, as a Lroad-shouldered con ductor enters the library, "hear a fellow fell off your car tbo other day and broke his log. Bet'or read up a little in case the company has you cnlled aB a witness." "Thanks," remarkB tho conductor, la conically. A moment later 1 noticed him perusing Darwin's "Descent of Man." Thero is no gaineaying the quality of literaturo with which the company fills tho mow of its barn. All that tho em ployes havo to do is to devour tbo in tellectual pubulum in proportion to their needs. Darwin, Huxley, Sponcor appear upon tho list. History, fiution, poetry no de partment iB neglected. If someonn tells tho conductor that ho iB a Ghojtorfiold hu comes to tho librarian to find out how badly ho has boon malignod. Tho librarian could not find any ChPBterfiolds in tho back ot tbo dictionary, so bo wrote a lettor to the young literary man down town. In the coureo of a few dayB "Lord Chesterfields Lotters to His Son1' were added to tho cjlloction. Tho grip men read up on the hiBtory of tho Trans atlantic cables aud tho motormon wish to know all about Kooly. Tho conduc tors fool tho olectiical currontB of learn ing und tho non-conductors, tho gripmon and tho motormon tako up tho idous. "How did jou happen to mako such a romarkablo Boloction of books?" I usk- od tho library young man tho other day. "Woll," he replied, "theoretically you may think I showed very little discrimi nation, but I tell you the results have justified my ideas. At first the mon wore a littlo afraid of this library. Thon whon thoy saw that it wouldn't hurt tfiom thoy began to uso it, and thoy aro availing themselves ot it with every month. The other day a motorman asked who wo didn't havo 'Quo Vadis.' We sent down and got two copies. Thero wcro inquiries for tbo 'Choir Invisible' and we telephoned to tho bookBtore and had it sent right up to the barn. They've got Kipling's 'Jungle Books' and 'Steven son's 'Tho Wreckers.' Thoy havo Dick ens and Scott. Thero is fiction in tho lilraiy gcod fiction, ard plonty of it Tho conductors Bee passengers reading 'Mr. Dooley in Peace and War.' Thoy ak us about it and they get copieB for tho library. Thoy can borrow tho books for two wooks. Tho families got tho benefit of them, It would surprise you to see bow many books on olectricty and railroad management this library maintains. Wo aro all loyal to Uncle Sam, and are bound to speak up promptly whonevor hiB government is assailed, and nro equally prompt to smilo whon some npe displays a desire to be "quite English you know." Yet whon wo contrast England's postal system with thut ot the Uuitod States we muBt confess un admiration for tho former and impati ence with tbo slow progress of tho latter. Though tbore is much in common be tween tho mother country and the United Stntes, still this country is far behind England in her poetal s)stem Tho English government ownB her postal savingB banks, postal telegraphs, and parcel post, whilo tho people ot tho United States are at the mercy of rich corporations who own these lines and who continue to grow fat on their valu able franchises, preventing with their long pocket books any legislation tend ing toward government ownership. Un dor tho postal laws ot England a tele graph mossago of twelve words, includ ing address and signature, goes for ono cent a word and iB delivered from any poBtofllco without any extra fee. Ex press matter is carried at an average, rato ot threo cents u pound, and yet there is a handsome yearly revenue ob tained from tho English postoflico. Ot course longer distances and more sparse ly settled communities in largo portions of tho United States must make conoid orable difference in tbo ratio of revenue and expenditure, still that affords no reason for donying tho American public the benefits to be derived from govern ment ownership of thoso enterprises. Tho English government is about to add to its postoflice department a telephone syetom at un expnse of 810,000,000. Telephonic communication will bo es tablished throughout tho United King dom with low ratoa. The govornmont will tako tho lines ot tho presont tele phone triiBt at a fair valuation, and tbo long Buffering public will bo delivered from its extortion. ThoBo aro great and wonderful reforms, and should be ngi tutod in every country, nnd "tbo land of tho bravo and tho froo' should bo tho last ono to supinoly submit to merciless corporations. E trnest, determined, por BiBtont agitution is tho ouly moans through which such reforms can bo se cured, and a long pull and a strong pull und a pull ultogothor will bring it. Of tho making of clubs thero is no end. Tho latest of which we havj heard is cullod tho "Socioty for tho Study of Life." From its constitution I judge that its members aro tbo most direct, of tho direct linoul disconduntB of tho most puritanical, of tho puritan fathers und mothers. They ugreo "nevor, either in fun or earnest, to Buy or imply unything to thocbildron suvo tho truth." Poor children! Tbo timo has como for you to cry aloud for protection from cruilty. Would they rob you of your v, belief in a veritable Santa ClauB? Must you never revel in tho tinglo and jingle of tho rhymeB of Mother GooEe? Must tho fairy tales of Grimes and Anderson bo banished with them, .and all that bright world of unreal things which so dolights tbe little ones? This is too much. Some one has said "wo shall soon need a socioty to protect us from socie ties.'' Tbo formation of thiB litoral minded association would seem to indi cate that that timo had come. Ar.d that common sonso should again ho seated on tho throne of reason. When these would-bo very wiso students of life, havo studied life closely onough they will find that young raindB nevor expand more beautifully or rapidly than whon carried along on tbe wingB of imag ination. That tho imagination is a God given faculty, to bo cherished, fostered, encouraged as ono of tho elements in tho ' child's make up, through wLich parents may keep tbe close hold of their child which in timo devolop3 into tho most complete confidence and companionship. Tbo imaginative child can create a world of boauty and love for itself no matter how sordid its surroundings. It is tho imaginutivo children who swell tho ranks of our authors, artists, musi cians, and optoniiste. That reminds mo that I Baw a now title for optomists tho other day, B. T. M. B. T. M., which put in plain Englsih means Brotherhood of Thoso Who Mako tho Best of Things Mundane. Tho Sociul Literary Club of Creto haB just finished its fourteenth year of study. Though its plan of work presumes an in dividual preparation in two lines of work each fortnight, tho past year has been ono of tho most profitable over ucdor takon. Ono hour each meeting has been givon to studies in Browning, principal ly of tho shortor pooaiB. This work will bo continuod tho coming year und prob ably for sovoral years, aB was tbo coureo Tho sales ot "David Harum," tho book which Edward Ndyee Westcott wroto en bis death bed continues too bo phonominal says the New York Times. Tho original of the character was Dave Harum, a well known resident of tho village of Homer, where Wescott's father once lived. The residents readily recall Harum who died in 1892, "Billy P.'' who personates William P. Randall of Cortland, and othor figures in the Look. Harum was a powerfully built man though only fivo feat six incbos tall, and a master band at horso training and horse swapping. His first enterprise in lifo was when be set out with a pair ot "horse frames" nnd a wugon load of buck stoves to soil. Ho returned with tbo stoves all sold, and a splendid team, the result cf successive trades in horse fle6h. beginning with tho two old scare crows, Tho Hal! in the Grove mot last week with Mrs. F, S. Stein. The following officers for next year were elected: Presi dent, Mrs. T. H. Leavitt; first vice preei. dent, Mrs. Zara Wilsonj second vice president, Mrs. F. N. Gibson; secretary and treasurer, Miss Mary Watson. A program committee composed of Mrs. Stein. Mrs. M. H. Garten, and Mrs. H. M. Bushnoll wub appointed. The sub ject for noxt year will be "Italy and Her Art.' Tba usual custom of devoting about half ot the timo ot tho meeting to a tho discussion of tho leading topics of r tho day will bo followed. The hour of tho meeting was changed from evening to uftornoon. Tho gentlemen will retain their memberships and an occasional ovoning mooting will bo hold for their benefit. Tho chairman of the program committoo requests that members who woro not present yesterday and who wish to work noxt yoar will notify her at once. Wffrfc;w'nrm-"rraiifflaniiBti